Whom do you think, is the best General Manager in MLB today. Your reasoning, can be based on your own criteria, from player transactions to improving a team, contracts, comments in the media or working with the payroll alloted, to field a competitive team.

 

The GM also is the person who hires/fires the coaches.

 

Thoughts and comments....

Jocketty of course...

Tony Reagins has done a great job with the Angels, "Billy" Beane with the A's of course.

 

I would say Jockety when he was with the Cardinals, but he has stepped into such a sewage pile with the Reds, he won't reap any benefits with his current team. They may win in the future, but he will be long gone.

 

Kenny Williams deserves a nod just for putting up with Ozzie, he hasn't done a bad job with the team either.

Given the financial restraints he has to work with, Billy Beane has to be high on the list.

 

Theo Epstein has done a great job in Boston, and Jocketty was very good in St. Louis. Doug Melvin in Milwaukee and Andrew Friedman in Tampa Bay have turned around dormant franchises. Larry Beinfast in Florida is trying to do the same thing, if ownership will help him out.

Epstein (Bos) & Cashman (Yanks) are a couple of the obvious ones.

 

Also:

 

Beane (Oakland)

Mozeliak (St. Louis) Maybe?

1. Theo Epstein

2. Michael Hill (Marlins GM I believe) He just keeps trading away but the team and talent keeps on winning (traded Cabrera, Lowell, Willis, etc..) and they keep on competing..

If you have to choose one from those named mentioned, which do you choose and why?

If you have to choose one from those named mentioned, which do you choose and why?

 

I'd probably say Theo Epstein..

 

Bringing over Mike Lowell from Florida

Curt Schilling from D-Backs

Jason Bay from Pit

 

Those aren't all of them, but it just seems like he makes the right trades at the right time.

Not that Epstein and Cashman haven't done great jobs, but life is a lot easier with a 54 billion dollar payroll. You make a mistake, you just write it off and try again. We have seen what happens when a somewhat small market team makes a financial mistake.

I'd probably say Theo Epstein..

 

Bringing over Mike Lowell from Florida

Curt Schilling from D-Backs

Jason Bay from Pit

 

Those aren't all of them, but it just seems like he makes the right trades at the right time.

In Boston's money-rich position, those trades are a little easier to make. It isn't like he didn't give up some talent in those deals ... Hanley Ramirez was part of the Lowell/Beckett deal.

I'd probably say Theo Epstein..

 

Bringing over Mike Lowell from Florida

Curt Schilling from D-Backs

Jason Bay from Pit

 

Those aren't all of them, but it just seems like he makes the right trades at the right time.

 

Keith Foulke from the White Sox

Traded Nomar for Mientkiewicz & Orlando Cabrera

Dave Roberts from L.A.

Not that Epstein and Cashman haven't done great jobs, but life is a lot easier with a 54 billion dollar payroll. You make a mistake, you just write it off and try again. We have seen what happens when a somewhat small market team makes a financial mistake.

:lol:

 

I've always liked Beane and his ability to consistently have the A's competitive, with less than household names at the 8 positions. He has an ability, to either acquire the right need or develop from the system.

 

Jockety seems to make several good moves, for the Cards and call me crazy, has done an admirable job with the Reds, given his situation. One could say Williams, might have the toughest role having to repair the Ozzie tirades and the mega-market of Chicago.

I know that Theo has a lot of resources with the Red Sox but I've still got to give him the nod. He's totally remade the Red Sox since he took over. In the decade before he took over their Minor League system had become very barren while management spent big money on free agents and put a winning but not quite championship caliber team on the field. Even with the Red Sox high payroll it should be noted that it is just a little more than half of what the Yankees spend. Heading into the 2008 season the Red Sox were 4th in team payroll and there were another 4 teams below them that were within $15 Million of their payroll so their resources aren't unlimited. 2008 Season Payrolls

 

To me what is so impressive about what he has done is how he managed to almost totally turn over the roster from the 2004 team, remain competative and then win the Series again in 2007. Look at the roster differences in that 4 year period and also how they were acquired.

 

2004

1B-Millar/Mientkiewicz (trade/trade)

2B-Bellhorn (trade)

SS-Cabrera (trade)

3B-Mueller (free agent)

LF-Ramireiz (free agent)

CF-Damon (free agent)

RF-Nixon (draft)

C-Varitek (trade)

DH-Ortiz (free agent)

SP-Schilling (trade)

Martinez (trade)

Lowe (trade)

Wakefield (free agent)

Arroyo (waviers)

RP-Timlin (free agent)

Williamson (trade)

Embree (trade)

Closer-Foulke (free agent)

 

2007

1B-Youkilis (draft)

2B-Pedroia (draft)

3B-Lowell (trade)

SS-Lugo (free agent)

LF-Ramirez (free agent)

CF-Crisp/Ellsbury (trade/draft)

RF-Drew (free agent)

C-Varitek (trade)

DH-Ortiz (free agent)

SP-Schilling (trade)

Beckett (trade)

Wakefield (free agent)

Lester (draft)

Matsuzaka (free agent)

RP-Okajima (free agent)

Lopez (trade)

Timlin (free agent)

Delcarmen (draft)

Closer-Papelbon (draft)

 

Notice how many more home grown players were on the 2007 team. Also he drew a lot of criticism for the Dice-K and Drew signings but both managed to be contributors in the postseason last year and both have been much improved in their second year in Boston. Also, he gets some heat for trading away Hanley Ramirez but without Beckett and Lowell there is no way that they get to, let alone win the World Series last season. With them they managed to win it with Julio Lugo at short so while they may have traded a future MVP they accomplished the goal of every team--win a World Series. He also did a great job of replacing Manny while still giving the team a chance to compete this season and next. He's shown an uncanny knack so far for knowing when to say goodbye to veterans and replace them--no matter how popular the player. It is really hard to find much to criticize in what he's done from a business persepctive.

I know that Theo has a lot of resources with the Red Sox but I've still got to give him the nod. He's totally remade the Red Sox since he took over. In the decade before he took over their Minor League system had become very barren while management spent big money on free agents and put a winning but not quite championship caliber team on the field. Even with the Red Sox high payroll it should be noted that it is just a little more than half of what the Yankees spend. Heading into the 2008 season the Red Sox were 4th in team payroll and there were another 4 teams below them that were within $15 Million of their payroll so their resources aren't unlimited. 2008 Season Payrolls

 

To me what is so impressive about what he has done is how he managed to almost totally turn over the roster from the 2004 team, remain competitive and then win the Series again in 2007. Look at the roster differences in that 4 year period and also how they were acquired.

 

It is really hard to find much to criticize in what he's done from a business perspective.

Excellent information and perspective AJG. One could say that Epstein, has made an effort to improve the Red Sox, in various approaches and they've worked.

 

His ability to add a need, with the right player and within system, has been extremely impressive.

What Terry Ryan, and now Bill Smith have been able to do in Minnesota is amazing...IMO

 

When they dealt Santana, I thought their run would be over. And here they sit 1/2 game behind the White Sox on Aug. 6th.

 

I also believe Ron Gardenhire is one of the top five Managers in baseball.